Steelers Select Max Iheanachor in First Round of NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have landed a potential difference-maker at offensive tackle in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Instead of selecting a wide receiver at No. 21 overall with several enticing options still available, the Steelers went with Arizona State's Max Iheanachor.

An impressive athlete with strong hands who still has some work to do to refine his technique, Iheanachor has some of the most upside of any lineman in this year's class if it all ends up clicking.

He's likely to stick at tackle instead of moving inside, and he now becomes the future of the position considering all of the questions about Broderick Jones.

With Iheanachor in the fold, Steelers have added yet another promising talent to an offensive line that could soon become one of the league's best.

Sep 20, 2025; Waco, Texas, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils offensive lineman Max Iheanachor (58) in action against the Baylor Bears during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images | Chris Jones-Imagn Images

Khan and McCarthy Discuss the Pick

Immediately after turning the card in and having Iheanachor announced as the pick in front of thousands of Steelers fans on the North Shore, head coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan discussed their decision to select him with the media.

Khan stated that Iheanachor had been someone of note for Pittsburgh dating back to February, which began with some of the team's scouts watching him at the Senior Bowl.

"I would say really when we were going through our February draft meetings," Khan said. "I wasn't at the Senior Bowl, the scouts came back, and we started talking about the guys that were there. We got to our February meetings, and that's when he really grabbed our attention there. He just kept getting better and better for us."

The Steelers had initially planned to select USC receiver Makai Lemon at No. 21, but when the Philadelphia Eagles traded up to No. 20 with the Dallas Cowboys in order to pick him, they quickly pivoted to Iheanachor.

"You trust your board, but the way it shook out, it brought us to the position, and it was the right pick for us," Khan said.

McCarthy, on the other hand, went into detail on some of Iheanachor's traits that stuck out to him during the evaluation process.

"His biggest thing when you watch lineman play, you want to see him strike and stick," he said. "And with that, the balance in the footwork, his ability to stay alive on second and third reaction when he does engage."

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